LOUDON, N.H. — Kevin Harvick’s move to Stewart-Haas Racing was made official Friday as Budweiser announced that it would sponsor Harvick for 20 races at SHR beginning in 2014.

Harvick will drive a new No. 4 car for the team co-owned by Tony Stewart.

Harvick has spent his entire Cup career driving for Richard Childress Racing, where he has 21 career victories. Harvick was named to replace Dale Earnhardt after Earnhardt’s death in the 2001 Daytona 500. The car number for Earnhardt’s former team was changed to No. 29, which Harvick has driven for the past 13 years.

His move to SHR for the 2014 season became public last November, but the official announcement was not made until Friday.

“I can’t thank Richard Childress and everyone at RCR enough for everything they’ve done for my career,” Harvick said in a statement. “I was just trying to make a name for myself in the Truck Series and Richard (Childress) believed in me enough to make me a part of his race team back in 1999.

“Without him, and without the hard work of so many people at RCR, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

The move leaves RCR without sponsorship of its No. 29 car for next season, although Childress has indicated that he would like to move grandson Austin Dillon to Cup and is working on sponsorship for him. If he moves to Cup, Dillon likely would use the No. 3, which has not been raced in Cup since Earnhardt’s death.

Harvick, who is fourth in the Cup standings, has said all year that he was focused on this season and succeeding in his final year with RCR. He has two wins and is fourth in the Cup standings.

“It's been a great journey. … Change can be bad, but for the most part, when you have change, the enthusiasm level goes through the roof and you want to do well,” Harvick said at the RCR shop in January.

“Sometimes you just want a change of pace and that's just kind of where I was.”

Harvick will join an SHR team that has Stewart and Danica Patrick as its drivers, with a possible fourth team for Ryan Newman, who is in the final year of his contract.

“Kevin has proven himself year after year in our sport,” SHR co-owner Tony Stewart said in a statement. “It’s a partnership we welcome as it will make our entire organization stronger.”

SHR did not immediately announce any additional sponsorship for Harvick.

“Over the last three years, Kevin has been an amazing ambassador for Budweiser, both on and off the track,” Anheuser-Busch Vice President Blaise D’Sylva said in a news release. “We value that level of commitment, and we’re proud to join him at Stewart-Haas Racing next season.”

Budweiser’s move with Harvick to SHR was not a surprise, with the only question being whether it wanted someone younger than the 37-year-old Harvick. Budweiser has been Harvick’s sponsor since 2011.

“I’ve developed a great relationship with so many people at Budweiser and am very happy it’s an association that will continue for many years to come,” Harvick said.

“We’ve enjoyed a lot of success together and our expectations match right up with those of Stewart-Haas Racing.”